Published: May 14, 2009 10:35 pm      

George’s headquarters getting new roof

City OKs Riverside Park projects

CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland Historic Preservation Commission approved an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction of a storage shed at Riverside Park and exterior changes at George Washington Headquarters.

Sharing the upkeep responsibilities of Riverside Park/George Washington Headquarters, the Cumberland Garden Club and city joined together in submitting their application.

“The city owns the grounds but the garden club does all the landscaping and what not,” said Kathy McKenney, city’s historic planner/preservation coordinator. “So we got together to submit one application for proposed changes.”

McKenney said the garden club needed to apply for a certificate to build a new storage shed near the existing one.

“They need additional space for tools and other items used for grounds maintenance,” she said.

The city was seeking approval for replacement of the George Washington Headquarters’ roof.

“The city just approved the bid for the roof’s replacement,” she said. “We’re hoping to start next month, right after Heritage Days.”

The Historic Restoration Specialists of Smithsburg will take off the tiled roof and replace it with an age-appropriate wood-shingle roof, costing approximately $10,000.

The project will be funded through the Maryland Heritage Area Authority grant of $21,353 the city received in November to help preserve and protect the headquarters.

In November, McKenney told the Times-News the grant will allow for a number of different improvements on the headquarters, including electric and lighting on the site and a modern upgrade for the sound system. The Garden Club of Cumberland also asked for water line repairs to help with landscaping.

Certificates of Appropriateness were also approved for new signage for Humble Traditions, 31 Baltimore St.; Manhattan Golf and Gallery, 61 Baltimore St.; and Roses, 50 Queen City Drive.

Doug Macy, member of the commission, abstained from voting and gave a brief presentation for the renovations he plans to do at 22-26 Greene Street.

“He is going to be doing a lot of exterior work, including replacing all of the windows, about 40 total, with a wood-window sash kit and restoring them to their original openings,” McKenney said. “He is also planning on constructing porches on the back of the building that will look out over the canal and that area.”

Macy said the maximum budget he has for the project is $180,000.

The commission approved his request.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.